Gearing for use in oil-well-drilling machines



H 1. LOCKHART GEARING FOR USE IN OIL WELL DRILLING MACHINES.

APPLIZIATION FILED MAR. 26. I919.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

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aflvanboz H. J LOCKHA g 5% QKM H. J. LOCKHART.

GEARING FOR USE IN OIL WELL DRILLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. 1919.

1 38,455, Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

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/ IIIIIIII npamtoz LLJ. Locwm 'r attozn e1 HAROLD JAMES LOCKHART, 0FPARKERSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA..

GEARING FOR USE IN OIL-WELL-DRILLING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed March 26, 1919. Serial No. 285,174.

To all whom it may concern Be itknown that I, HAROLD J. LOCKHART, acitizen of the United Statesfresiding at Parkersburg, in the county of"Wood and State of Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Gearing for Use in Oil-VVell-Drilling Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gearing used in oil welldrilling machines.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for positivelyconnecting the calf wheel with the band wheel, to be driven thereby, anddispensing with the usual sprocket chain, sprocket wheels, and clutch,employed for this purpose, such driving connecting means also serving topermit of'a proper slippage in case of excessive strains.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive tomanufacture, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame:

Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a partly diagrammatic and partly perspective view of the cablearrangement;

Fig. 4 is a detail section through the calfwheel pulley;

Fig. 5 is a similar view through the band wheel pulley, and,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates a mainframe as a whole, comprising longitudinal beams 6. These longitudinalbeams are connected by transverse beams 7, as shown. At the forward endsof the beams 6 are upwardly projecting beams 8, to which are securedjournal boxes 9, receiving a shaft 10, carrying a calf or casing linedrum 11. A calf wheel 12 is rigidly securedto the drum 11, to rotatetherewith, and this calf wheel has a grooved calf wheel pulley 13,arranged upon one side thereof and rigidly secured thereto. This pulley13 is provided with three separate annular grooves 14 which are curvedin cross section, as shown in Fig. 4. These grooves are separate, andare not continuous spiral grooves. The numeral 15 designates a bandwheel adapted for engagement with a belt leading to a power drivenpulley. This band wheel is rigidly secured to a transverse band shaft 16journaled in bearings 17. These bearings are rigidly secured to thebeams 6. A crank 18 is rigidly secured to one end of the shaft 16. Thiscrank is adapted for connection with a walking beam (not shown), whichis connected with the tool cable or line to reciprocate the same, as iswell known. A pulley 19 is rigidly secured to the shaft 16, and thispulley is provided with three separate annular grooves 20, which are notone continuous spiral groove. These grooves are curved in cross section,as shown in Fig. 5, and are in alinement with the grooves 14 of thepulley 13.

The numeral 21 designates a flexible element, such as a metallic cable,rope or the like. This flexible element is continuous and is in the formof an endless belt. The flexible element 21 is placed within the outergroove 14 of the pulley 13, at its lower side, and then placed inengagement with grooved pulleys 22 and 23, included in a tightener orslack take-up device. This device is laterally inclined and the flexibleelement is next passed through the inner groove 20 of the pulley 19. Theflexible element then extends above the pulley 19 and is passed into theinner groove 14 of the pulley 13, in alinement therewith. The flexible.element is then passed beneath the pulley 13 and beneath the pulley 19into the second or inner groove thereof and then over the pulley 19within the second groove and over and about the pulley 13 in the secondgroove. The flexible element then extends beneath the pulley 13 in thesecond groove and is carried into the outer groove 20 of the pulley 19beneath it and upwardly over the pulley 19 into the outer groove 1 1, ofthe pulley 13. The cable then continues about the pulley 13 and passesfrom this outer groove to the slack take-up device as above stated. Thisarrangement of the flexible element 21 is important, as it prevents thesame being unduly worn in use.

The pulleys 22 and 23 of the tightener, are pivoted within a swingingsupport 2%,

pivoted between its ends to a support 25, as shown at 26. The swingingsupport is adapted to be turned upon its pivot by an upwardly extendinglever 27, rigidly secured thereto, and having connection with arearwardly extending link 28, pivoted to a crank 29. This crank iscarried by a rock shaft 30, turned by a lever 31. The lever 31 isprovided with a forked element 32 at the end thereof, and this forkedelement is adapted to engage with the links of an anchor chain 33,whereby the lever 31' may be held in adjustment in the desired angu: larposition The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

lVhen'the lever 31 is held in the rear position, whereby the tightenerholds the flexible element 21 suitably taut, the rotation of the bandwheel 15 is transmitted to the calf wheel 12, in a positive manner,without slippage, to enable the cable carried by the calf drum 11 toraise or handle the casing under normalcon ditions. The elimination ofslip page is due to the peculiar construction of the grooved pulleys,and the arrangement of the flexible element or cable. I have found thatthis arrangement provides as positive a connection between the twopulleys, as if a sprocket chain and wheel drive were provided. When itis desired to stop the rota-- tion of the calf drum 11, the lever 31 isswung upwardly, and the tightener device renders the flexible element 21suitably slack whereby the pulley 19 will slip in contact with theflexible element. It is thus seen that the driving means will embody thead vantages of a'positive drive with the usual clutch. This drivingmeans possesses a further advantage not adherent in the sprocket wheel,sprocket chain, and clutch drive, as such a drive is absolutely positiveand the calf wheel cannot stop unless the clutch is opened. As a resultof this, when the easing sticks, due to concaving in of the well, thecalf wheel will frequently pull the casing with such force that itssections are separated. By employment of my driving connecting means,when the casing sticks,

the flexible element will permit of slippage I- aving thus described myinvention,

what I claim is:

In an oil well drilling machine, a band wheel, a calf wheel, a pulleyconnected with the band wheel to rotate therewith and having a pluralityof separate'annular' grooves, a second pulley connected with the calfwheel for rotation therewith and having a corresponding number ofseparate annular grooves which are arranged in substantial alinementwith the first-named annular grooves, a. pivoted support arrangedbetween the pulleys and laterally inclined, tightener pulleys carriedby. the support, means to angularly adjust the pivoted support, and anendless cable embodying a plurality of upper and lower runs, the cableengaging within the two sets ofannular grooves and having the top runsparallel, said cable having one of its lower runs passed about thetightener pulleys carried by the pivotedsupport, the said lower runpassing from the outer groove of one pulley and leading to the innergroove of the other pulley, the lower run engaging within theintermediate groove of the band wheel pulley extending to'the innergroove of the calf wheel pulley, and the lower run engaging within theouter groove of the band wheel pulley extending to theintermediategroove of the calf wheel pulley.

In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

, HAROLD JAMES LOOKHART. Witnesses i L.'D. DUNSMORE, D. M. Lone.

